There are five main things that you need to focus on when tasting wine: sight, smell, swirl, sip, and savour. Each of these steps are important in order to get the most out of your wine-tasting experience. In this blog post, we will discuss each of the Five S’s of wine and explain why they are important.
Sight
The colour of the wine can be a good indicator of its variety, whether it was aged in oak, and the concentration and body of the wine. We are primarily looking for clarity, intensity and colour.
For example, red wines are typically darker than white wines because red grapes are used to make red wine, and the red wine making process is designed to extract the available anthocyanins (a type of pigment) through skin contact.
Another thing you can see when you look at a wine is the level of opacity. Opacity is how much light passes through the wine. A less opaque wine will have a higher level of transparency. You can also see the bubbles in a sparkling wine.
Smell
When you smell a wine, you are trying to detect the different notes that make up the aroma, but you first need to check if the wine has a fault or has any off aromas. There are three main types of smells that you will smell in wine: primary aromas, secondary aromas and tertiary aromas.
Primary aromas are the smells that you will smell in the grape itself and from the primary fermentation. These include fruity smells like strawberry, apple, as well as floral scents like rose and honeysuckle.
Secondary aromas are those originating from the post-fermentation wine making process, such as from the yeast or oak and include the aroma of brioche or vanilla.
Tertiary aromas are the smells that you will detect in the wine after maturation. These include earthy smells like mushroom and tobacco, as well as fruit development smells, like fig and exotic spice, like cinnamon.
Swirl
Swirling the wine is important because it allows you to smell the aromas more accurately. When you swirl the wine, it causes the surface of the wine to move. This movement creates tiny bubbles that release the aromas and flavours of the wine. The more you swirl the wine, the more aromas and flavours will be released. This way, you can smell all the different aromas that make up a particular vintage of a Pinot Noir or a Merlot, for example.The easiest way to swirl is to leave the glass on the table and move it in a steady circular motion.
Sip
When you sip the wine, you are allowing it to coat your entire tongue and palate and to expose your taste buds and mouth to all the nuances of flavour and texture. You can also evaluate the wine’s body, acidity, sweetness and tannins and whether it is in balance. By sipping the wine, you can determine the mouthfeel of the wine, as well as whether or not you like it.
It is also important to note the texture of the wine. Is it light and refreshing, or is it heavy and full-bodied?
You are looking for an alcohol taste or sensation (the back or your mouth will feel warm) and how long it lingers in your mouth and throat. This can be short, medium or long. Believe it or not, some wines linger for over a minute. This is called the finish.
Savour
When you savour the wine, you are giving it time to digest. This allows you to taste the flavours and aromas more distinctly. You can take the time to assess the wine’s qualities and maybe take a guess on its provenance from all the sensations you have identified.
When you take the five s’s of wine tasting into account, you will have a much better understanding of what you’re tasting.
Oastbrook’s vineyard tours are a brilliant way to learn about and sample our award-winning wines. You’ll be expertly guided through the tasting process and discover all the incredible tastes and aromas of our wine varieties, which are grown and made here at our vineyard in East Sussex.
